desired that beautiful girl for his bride. And it so happened that he was
accepted by the girl herself. One day the deity assuming the form of a
Brahmana, was happily enjoying the society of the fair one, when he was
discovered by the king. And the virtuous king thereupon ordered the
Brahmana to be punished according to law. At this the illustrious deity
flamed up in wrath. And beholding this, the king wondered much and bent
his head low on the ground. And after some time the king bowing low
bestowed the daughter of his upon the god Agni, disguised as a Brahmana.
And the god Vibhabasu (Agni) accepting that fair-browed daughter of king
Nila, became gracious unto that monarch. And Agni, the illustrious
gratifier of all desires also asked the monarch to beg a boon of him. And
the king begged that his troops might never be struck with panic while
engaged in battle. And from that time, O king, those monarchs who from
ignorance of this, desire to subjugate king Nila's city, are consumed by
Hutasana (Agni). And from that time, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the
girls of the city of Mahishmati became rather unacceptable to others (as
wives). And Agni by his boon granted them sexual liberty, so that the
women of that town always roam about at will, each unbound to a particular
husband. And, O bull of the Bharata race, from that time the monarchs (of
other countries) forsake this city for fear of Agni. And the virtuous
Sahadeva, beholding his troops afflicted with fear and surrounded by
flames of fire, himself stood there immovable as a mountain. And purifying
himself and touching water, the hero (Sahadeva) then addressed Agni, the
god that sanctifieth everything, in these words,--

"'I bow unto thee, O thou whose track is always marked with smoke. These my
exertions are all for thee. O thou sanctifier of all, thou art the mouth
of the gods and thou art Sacrifice personified. Thou art called Pavaka
because thou sanctifiest everything, and thou art Havyavahana, because
thou carriest the clarified butter that is poured on thee. The Veda have